Kevin Bronson on November 7th, 2015

0

My, my, Big Black Delta, you’ve grown up so big and strong.

After Thursday night’s headlining show at the Teragram Ballroom, it’s hard to believe that not long after Jonathan Bates debuted his bedroom project in 2011, he played shows at places like the Satellite in total darkness (save for a some seizure-inducing LEDs) and shrouded in a hood.

There was nothing shy about Thursday’s sold-out show. Backed by a full band including guitarists Dhani Harrison (George’s son, in the eye-catching Nikes) and Ray Suen, drummers Chris Hornbrook and Dave Elitch, bassist Blas Perez, synth player Josh Giroux and vocalist Camilla Grey (Uh Huh Her), Bates gave a cathartic performance of the percussion- and synth-driven songs from BBD’s first album and the forthcoming “Tragame Tierra.”

He was energetic and gracious, and even apologized for foisting a bunch of new songs on the audience — not that anybody minded.

Two of new ones opened the show: “It’s OK” — a song written after a series of tumultous events including the death of Bates’ father, the death of friend and the theft of all his musical gear from a storage unit — followed by “RCVR,” a song whose recorded version features Debbie Gibson. BBD followed with a trio of songs from the first album, “Money Rain,” “Side of the Road” and “Betamax,” before segueing to new songs “Kid Icarus,” “Overlord” and “Steer the Canyon.”

Then came the infectious early song “Huggin & Kissin,” followed by “Let’s Go Home,” before Big Black Delta encored with “IFUCKINGLOVEYOU.” Considering the tenor of the night, there was no doubt Bates really meant it.

Photos by David Benjamin